Hillsboro, OR – It was a game in three acts for the Vikings, but it resulted in another convincing win as Portland State beat Cal Poly, 42-21, in a Big Sky Conference game at Hillsboro Stadium.
 
The Vikings were brilliant early, sloppy in the middle, then opportunistic at the end as they improved their record to 4-4 on the season, 3-2 in the Big Sky Conference. The 42 points were a season-high and the Vikings have won their last two games at home by a combined score of 73-31.
 
PSU forced four turnovers, scoring three touchdowns off them. However, they made four of their own. Fortunately, the Mustangs could only capitalize on one for a score.
 
The Vikings had 207 yards and five touchdowns rushing in the game as senior Malik Walker and freshman Jalynnee McGee had big days. Walker went for 116 yards and two scores, while McGee had 63 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Davis Alexander added two short rushing TDs to go with 198 yards passing and one passing touchdown.
 
On defense, the Vikings got another strip-sack forced fumble from defensive end VJ Malo, his third in two games. Malo had a monster day with eight tackles, including five tackles for loss.
 
Linebacker Parker McKenna led the defense with 10 tackles, including one for loss and a pass breakup. In all, the Vikings made a dozen TFLs and held Cal Poly to 50 yards rushing. Spencer Brasch threw for 287 yards in the game, with a lot coming while the Mustangs were in catch-up mode, but he also threw three interceptions.
 
"There was adversity and it got sloppy offensively. I've had teams when that happens, they crumple. That doesn't happen with this team. Each week they expect to win," said Viking Coach Bruce Barnum. "I liked how our defense played. And, it's nice to win a game like that when it gets sloppy. Four turnovers and still win a Big Sky Conference game is pretty good."
 
PSU's defense held Cal Poly to 337 total yards. More importantly, the Vikings stopped the Mustangs on third down (2-11) and fourth down (2-5) at a high rate all day.
 
The start of this game looked like the start of PSU's previous win over Idaho State. Malo's strip-sack of Brasch in the first series was recovered by Jake Porter at the Mustangs 46-yard line. It took the Vikings only five plays to score from there. Walker rushed in from 18 yards and PSU led 7-0 just five minutes into the game.
 
A more methodical 16-play, 70-yard drive later in the period staked the Vikings to a two-touchdown lead. McGee scored on a two-yard burst to end that series.
 
The Mustangs came right back on the next play from scrimmage, turning a screen pass into a 75-yard touchdown from Brasch to Chris Coleman. A missed extra point had the Vikings ahead 14-6 at the end of the first quarter.
 
PSU's only serious scoring threat in the second quarter came late. However, after a 12-yard catch-and-run to the goal line, wide receiver Beau Kelly fumbled and the ball rolled out of the endzone, turning it over to Cal Poly.
 
A Hail Mary interception of Alexander's pass on the final play of the half left the Vikings with an eight-point lead at halftime. They held the Mustangs to 123 yards of offense, including -23 rushing.
 
An early third quarter turnover got the Mustangs back into the game. Alexander was picked again, setting up Cal Poly at the PSU 35. The Mustangs scored in five plays and with a two-point conversion tied it at 14-14 with 12:19 to go in the third quarter.
 
PSU bounced back though, responding with a pair of scoring drives. They went 64 yards and 66 yards on their next two possessions with Alexander finishing each series with a three-yard touchdown run. That had the Vikings up 28-14 early in the fourth quarter.
 
Freshman defensive back Tyreese Shakir then came up with his second interception of the season at the Cal Poly 12. Alexander tossed a 12-yard scoring pass to Darien Chase on the next play and PSU had all but put the game away at 35-14.
 
GAME NOTES

• JR CB Anthony Adams picked off his third pass of the season and the ninth in his career. He has five total takeaways this year (3 INT, 2 FR) and 12 in his career... SR S Ty Apana-Purcell made his second interception of the season.
• JR WR Beau Kelly had eight receptions for 101 yards. His fourth 100-yard game of the season.
• SR RB Malik Walker has 416 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the last four games.
• JR DE VJ Malo now has 17 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks this season. Both rank as eighth-most in a season in school history. He has done so in just eight games.
• With two rushing touchdowns, Davis Alexander now has 24 in his career which ties for eighth-most in school history. With 58 career passing touchdowns he is now tied for third all-time in PSU history.
• Portland State goes on the road for the next two weeks. Playing at Weber State on Nov. 6 and Sacramento State on Nov. 13. The Vikings return home to host Eastern Washington on Nov. 20. All three teams are nationally-ranked.